Manmohan Singh exchanged aggressive remarks with Arun Jaitley, and said that he commands a certain respect despite what the members say.

You have to give it to Manmohan Singh on this one. When the whole nation keeps lamenting that our PM doesn't speak, talk or even whisper, MMS today surprised the oppostion and perhaps even his party members by showing an agressive , fiesty side in the Rajya Sabha today. Who knew, who we ask! Certainly not Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley, who must have done a double take when the PM launched an attack on him. So what really happened? While delivering his statement on the current worrisome state of the economy, BJP MPs created a ruckus (as usual) and started shouting 'PM Chor Hai'. This seemed to tick our PM off, who then reminded the House about his position and stature and basic standards of decency.

In an unprecedented attack on the BJP led opposition for disrupting the Parliamentary proceedings, Manmohan Singh exchanged aggressive remarks with Arun Jaitley, and said that he commands a certain respect despite what the members say.

"Have you heard of any country where MPs shout and walk to the well of the House and say 'Prime Minister chor hai'.Despite what some members may say, I do command a certain respect in the council of ministers," he told the Rajya Sabha.

Manmohan Singh took on the BJP, saying it should allow parliament to function if it was worried about the country's economy."Parliament is the supreme body in the country and is not allowed to function session after session," Manmohan Singh said.

"I am glad the principal opposition recognises the need for consensus in the house. But building consensus is the responsibility of both the government and the principal opposition. But their conduct in the house is otherwise.The principal opposition has never reconciled itself that it was voted out of power in 2004," he added

This remark caused commotion in the house, with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members noisily protesting.After Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien intervened, order was restored.

Manmohan Singh went on: "Have you ever heard of a situation in any parliament where the prime minister is not allowed to introduce his council of ministers.

But a sharp retort was soon in sight, as expected from Mr Jaitley.He responded sharply, and said: "Have you heard of any democracy where PM won a vote of confidence by buying members of parliament?" referring to the infamous cash for votes scandal.

Jaitley, who also lashed out at the explanation of the economic crisis and the depreciating rupee, urged the Prime Minister to decide whether the government will pick prudence or populism, a reference to the massively-expensive food security scheme that was cleared by the Lok Sabha this week.

Jaitley had earlier criticized the Prime Minister's explanation of the economic crisis and the depreciating rupee, stating that Dr Singh's track record as prime minister was of populist policies, not reform.

"If you continue to follow the course, then the legacy that you leave behind will not be the legacy that you left behind as the finance minister. That legacy was different," he said.

Dr. Singh earlier in the day said that the Central Government is taking steps to reduce current account deficit and added that growth will improve in the second half of fiscal year.

"There are concerns and justifiably so on how rupee fall will impact economy, the movement of the rupee recently is a matter of concern to the government," Dr. Singh told the Lok Sabha while making a statement on the current economic situation.

Whether or not Manmohan Singh 2.0 version is here to stay, his aggressive stand to establish decency in the Parliament is a surprise but welcome move. Of late, the language and despicable behaviour of our MPs has been downright shameful. They may have had a solid point , given the falling rupee and battered economy, but stopping to such low levels of chanting 'PM Chor Hai' in the Parliament is deplorable. Even though they may have criminal records, dicey credentials and questionable levels of sanity, the Parliament in which our MPs sit (rarely debate) has some modicum of sanctity left. So does the post of the Prime Minister of India.

Speaking of which, it was a refreshing change to see MMS in an agressive mode to counter a cheap act by the MPs. For years, Manmohan Singh has played the role of a silent statesman, much to the frustation of the citizens and to the delight of the opposition. His non-reactions and meek responses to issues of importance have always left us asking for more from him.Here's wishing that we get to hear him speak with conviction and volume in the days to come.